Tool



March 3, 1942. c, GRUBB 2,274,981

TOOL

Filed Dec. 11, 1939 INVENTOR ROBERT C. GRUBB.

umjrao STATES PATENT OFFICE Robert C. Glllbb, Francisco, C81". Application December '11, 1939, sfl'lll N0. 308,532

My invention relates to tools and has for its objects to provide an improved tool (1) which will facilitate the insertion or removal] of coil springs under heavy tension; (2) which enables the insertion or removal-of such springs with absolute safety; (3) which enables the insertion or removal of--coi1 springs under heavy tension with one hand; (4) which is exceedingly simple in construction and lends itself to economical production.

Additional objects of my invention will be pointed out in the following-description of the same taken-in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein r r Figure l is a view of my improved tool in perspective illustrating its manner of use in the assembling of a spring in or the removal. of such spring from an automobile'brake assembly.

5 Claims. (Cl. 29-871) handle is not provided with an opening in its upper surface, as in the first embodiment, but presents a limiting stop to movement of the stem extension rod in the direction toward the handle. Movement of the rod in the other direction away from the handle is blocked after a limited travel of the rod in such direction, by a circumferential upon a brake pedal of a car.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of my I improved tool showing a portion therein in elevation.

Figure 3 is asectional view transverse of the stem of my improved tool, along the line 3-3 of Figure- 2.

Figure 4 is a view-in section, depicting a modi-' fication oi'the embodiment of Figure 2; V Y My improved tool comprises a hollow tubular through which the hooked stem I having at one .end thereof a hand grip or handle, in the'form of a hollow tube 3 positioned transversely of the stem; and at its other end, the

This flange lies in a plane substantially normal to the stem, and has a radially extending notch formed in the edge thereof; The peripheral edge of the flange is preferably bevelled to facilitate use of the tool for the purpose for which it is intended, as will be more fully pointed out in describing the manner in which this tool is employed in the removal or application of coil springs under heavy tension.

Slidably fitting within the hollow stem is a stem extension rod lot a length greater thanthe hollow stem is provided with a circular flange 5. w

over all length oi the tubular stem including the diameter of; the hand grip or handle, and this rod is adapted, in one direction of movement, to

extend through the hand grip or handle, which.

has been provided with openings for the purpose. Each end of the stem'extension rod 9 is flared to a diameter greater thanthe. inner diameter of the hollow stem to provide a shoulder In at each end, and the upper surface opening in the handle is of a size sufllcient to pass the flared end of the extension rod. The rod is thus permitted a limited range of; movement in the hollow stem.

. In a modification ofmy improved tool, the

are normally held out of engagement with the brake drum, by powerful coil springs I5,'engaged,

. under tension, in openings I! provided therefor in flanges l9 forming part of the brake shoes.

To remove a spring from its position in an assembly ofthis general character, the end of the extension rod is inserted into the opening Y end of the spring ex-' tends, and'theflange is worked under the end of the spring until the hooked portion enters the: The bevelled edge of radial notch'in the flange. the flange has for its purpose to facilitate this operation of engaging the end of the spring. When the hooked end has thus been grasped by the tool, a partial rotation of the tool in a direction producing additional tensioning of the 'f spring will suflice to draw the hooked portion of the spring from the opening thereby freeing it from engagement with the brake shoe to which it was hooked. The spring being under strong tension will have a tendency to contract and pull the tool away from its anchored opening. The tool is gradually inclined in the direction of such spring contraction, the contracting force of the spring on the notched flange serving to withdraw the tool until the flared end of the stem exten- I sion engages the edge of the opening and pro-- vides a fulcrum, whereby the spring may be gradually eased to its contracted condition, after which a partial rotation of the tool in the direction of spring contraction from the tool.

The slidability of the stem extension rod is desirable as it renders the tool highly flexible'in its application to various jobs. For one thing, the

extensibility of the flared end of the extension. rod beyond the radially notched flange should bewill free the spring sufllcient to enable the notched flange to engage or disengage the end of a spring in its normal contracted condition, with the flared end of the extension stem engaging the edge of the opening into which the hooked end of the spring is to be inserted or from which it is to be removed.

In restoring the spring to its previously assembled position, the flared end of the stem extension is inserted into the opening to provide the necesary fulcrum, and the hooked end of the spring, in its contracted form, is engaged by the notched flange. Due to the leverage which "the tool affords, when acting about the flared end as a fulcrum, the spring may be stretched and by a simultaneous partial rotation of the tool, the hooked end of the spring may be brought to a point above and slightly beyond the opening into which it is to be inserted. Downward pressure upon the handle of the tool will carry the hooked end of the spring toward the opening, whereupon a partial reversal of rotation of the tool will assure the hooked end of the spring entering the opening followed by a withdrawal of the flange from engagement by the spring, thereby leaving the spring in its expanded assembled position.

While I have disclosed my improved tool in detail, it is apparent that the same is capable of further modification without departing from the principles involved and I accordingly do not desire to be limited in my protection to the exact construction described and illustrated, except as may be necessitated by the prior art and the ap-' pended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A tool for removing the hooked end of a tensioned spring from an aperture consisting of a rod having an end enterable in said aperture, a cylindrical stem rotatable and slidable on said rod and shorter than the extent of said rod, a hand grip on the outer end of said stem, the other end of said stem having a portion extending outwardly therefrom, said portion having a notch on the outer edge thereof for engaging the hook of said spring, whereby said stem may be rotated on said rod to clear the hook on said spring from the edge of said aperture, the stem slid on said rod to withdraw the hook from said aperture, and the tool as a whole inclined with respect to said aperture to collapse said spring.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said portion is a flange.

3. Apparatus on accordance with claim 1, wherein said portion is a disc shaped flange.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein one end of said rod terminates within said handle.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said notch extends from the outer edge of said portion to points adjacent the junction of said stem and said portion.

ROBERT c. GRUBB. 

